Posted on 08/01/2007 2:52:38 PM PDT by RGSpincich
SAN LEANDRO -- Arson investigators combed through the charred remains of a San Leandro sports bar early Wednesday looking for evidence of a possible hate crime after a racial slur was found spray-painted on the back of the building.
Alameda County Sheriff's Sgt. JD Nelson said a patrolling officer smelled smoke and noticed it pouring out of the Sports Fan on 150th and Liberty at about 3 a.m. and immediately called in firefighters.
The blaze was quickly brought under control, but concerns were immediately elevated when the slur was discovered.
"He (the deputy) noticed the slur almost immediately," Nelson said. "He patrols that area and had not seen it the night before."
Nelson said the bar was owned by an African-American and the clientele was predominantly African-Americans.
"It's a little unnerving when someone has the audacity to write something on a wall that is so offensive," Nelson said.
Investigators have been able to determine that the fire began inside the bar.
"We have to find out if someone left in anger or if this is simply an overloaded circuit," Nelson said. "The problem with a fire in a bar is that it is full of alcohol and that is an accelerant."
Bar general manager Reggie Bell was on the scene and looking at the damage in disbelief.
"I'm just shocked and surprised," Bell told KTVU. "I try to run a good business and be a good citizen and then something like this happens…What do I have to do to be accepted as a good citizen here?…I have no idea what I'm going to do…I'll get back in business…I'll be back."
Bell said he had not received any threats and when he left the bar at 10:30 p.m. Tuesday it was "business as usual."
Investigators said they would be on the scene for much of the day trying to determine the cause of the blaze.
“The fire got out of hand, he panicked [and] fled the bar. His words were, it was like he was gonna get in trouble with his mother,”
LOL, oh man. XD
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